Magic Man vacates

Paulie Malignaggi has been forced to vacate Ricky Hatton's old IBF light-welterweight world title.

Last Updated: 02/10/08 7:35am

Ricky Hatton will NOT be fighting for his old IBF light-welterweight title.

Paulie Malignaggi has vacated the belt after refusing to grant mandatory challenger Herman Ngoudjo, a rematch.

The Magic Man beat him in January this year but he was installed as number one challenger as the deal to face Hatton was being struck.

For his part, Ngoudjo had agreed to step aside and face the winner of the Sky Box Office showdown on November 22, but with neither boxer willing to guarantee him a shot, his team pushed the IBF to call for a purse bid.

That immediately discounted Malignaggi and left the New Yorker to vacate the belt he took from Lovemore N'Dou in June 2007.